Double-T-beam for construction of combination sheet pile walls

ABSTRACT

A double-T-beam for the construction of a combination sheet pile wall from numerous elements that can be driven into the ground, such as beams, sheet piles, etc., whereby the double-T-beam exhibits in its cross-section two T-bars, and one connecting web that connects said T-bars and forms the T-down-stroke. The free longitudinal edges of the double-T-beam, which are located on one side of the connecting web in one plane parallel to the connecting web, are designed as analogous connecting elements of the type round claw or round knob for directly connecting additional sheet pile wall elements with corresponding connecting elements.

The invention relates to a double-T-beam for constructing combination sheet pile walls according to the main subject of patent claim 1.

As a rule, the central element of such combination sheet pile walls is a double-T-beam made of steel, to which other elements, such as sheet piles, are attached. This is implemented by welding connecting elements to each free end of the T-bar of the double-T-beam, whereby the connecting elements each exhibit the same length as the double-T-beam and, in their cross-section, exhibit a base, a web protruding from the center of it and two mushroom-shaped curved lugs with about the same width as the base. These connecting elements are clipped onto the potentially slightly formed ends of the T-bars, such that the free end of the T-bar contacts the web. The lugs may also be pressed mechanically onto the T-bars and then welded to the double-T-beam. Connecting elements of this type are known, for example, from the German Patent DE 2,903,768 C.

The double-T-beam with the connecting elements welded to it is then driven into the ground. Clipped to the connecting element are then, for example, two sheet piles, which are in the cross-section connected to one another in a Z-shape, and are driven down as well. Driven into these driven down sheet piles is again a double-T-beam prepared in the same manner as described above. This method is repeated until a sheet pile wall of a desired length is created.

Such combination sheet pile walls may also be built only from double-T-bars that are welded together as described above, prior to being driven.

Other combination sheet pile walls are known as well, which are constructed, for example, of beams and pipes as well as weld corners or other connecting elements placed in between.

Preparations for constructing such a combination sheet pile wall are very elaborate, in particular because of the welding work for connecting the double-T-beam with the connecting element.

A further disadvantage is that a significant amount of material is required, due to the required connecting elements, such that the weight of the sheet pile wall is great. Since the price of the sheet pile wall is typically calculated by weight, the costs for sheet pile walls are correspondingly high.

Furthermore, handling of the prepared sheet pile wall elements is difficult due to the great weight.

It is an objective of the invention to specify a double-T-beam of the type in question which simplifies or allows the construction of a single or double combination sheet pile wall. Additionally, the weight of the material required for the construction of the sheet pile wall should be kept low in order to reduce costs and ensure easy handling of the sheet pile wall elements.

This objective is achieved according to the invention through the features of patent claim 1.

Thus, the invention is based on the surprisingly simple concept of forming the free longitudinal edges of the double-T-beam as connecting elements of the type round claw and/or round knob for directly connecting additional sheet pile walls exhibiting corresponding connecting elements. To this end, analogous connecting elements are provided at the free longitudinal edges located in one plane connecting parallel to the two T-bars of the double-T-beam and the connecting web and forming the T-down-strokes, for example, connecting elements of the type round claw or round knob.

Preferably, the double-T-beam exhibits on one side connecting elements of the type round claw and on the opposite side those of the type round knob.

In one variation, it is possible to form the connecting elements on all longitudinal edges of the double-T-beam as elements of the type round knob.

To construct a combination sheet pile wall, initially a double-T-beam is driven into the ground; thereafter the connecting elements of the double-T-beam, for example sheet piles that are Z-shaped in their cross-section, are clipped on with their corresponding connecting elements and are driven into the ground. This method is repeated until a sheet pile wall of the desired length is created.

With a combination sheet pile wall constructed in this manner, the connecting elements that were until now necessary between the double-T-beam and additional sheet pile wall elements to be connected are eliminated. This significantly reduces the weight of the sheet pile wall; computations indicate that up to 25% can be saved in weight, which correspondingly lowers the cost of the combination sheet pile wall.

In addition, all welding work for connecting the connecting elements with the double-T-beams is eliminated, resulting in significant savings in work and time. Because of the savings in weight for the material for the sheet pile walls, the individual sheet pile wall elements can be handled easier, resulting in turn in time savings when constructing the sheet pile wall.

By constructing the double-T-beam according to the invention, it is also possible to achieve a lower number of sheet pile wall elements, for example, a combination sheet pile wall constructed of double-T-beams and double-planks can be constructed with only two elements, namely the double-T-beam designed according to the invention and sheet piles with an approximately Z-shaped cross-section. To construct such combination sheet pile walls, essentially a modular construction system of only a few types of elements is offered, which is favorable for the manufacture of the individual sheet pile wall elements and for the costs of the sheet pile wall. This modular construction system provides practically unlimited application capabilities. For example, it is possible to construct a formwork system, whereby two double-planks each are arranged between two double-T-beams that are adjacent to two connecting elements that are located opposite to one another, such that a double-wall combination sheet pile wall results, where the space between the outer walls of the combination sheet pile wall can be freely flushed and filled with a filling material.

The sheet piles, which generally have a Z-shaped cross-section, and are to be connected to a double-T-beam according to the invention, exhibit at their opposing longitudinal edges on the one side a connecting element of the round claw type and on the other side a connecting element of the round knob type. The webs following the connecting elements preferably protrude as flat webs from the connecting elements and are connected to each other through the center Z-web. Contrary to the state-of-the-art, with such sheet piles no sharp bends are necessary within the connecting webs, which have production-technological advantages when rolling of the sheet piles during manufacture, because the rolling steps required for making the bends in the connecting web can be eliminated.

The invention is explained in greater details using exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a first embodiment of a double-T-beam in the construction of a sheet pile wall according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through a second embodiment of a double-T-beam according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through a sheet pile for connecting to a double-T-beam according to the invention;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show cross sections through combination sheet pile walls that are constructed with double-T-beams and sheet piles according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section through a connecting element for connecting to a double-T-beam or a sheet pile.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a double-T-beam 1 for constructing a combination sheet pile wall. The beam 1 consists of two T-bars 2 and 3, which are connected to one another with a connecting web 4 forming the T-down-stroke. In this case, the T-bars 2 and 3, respectively, are reinforced in their thickness in the direction of the connecting web 4; however, they may also exhibit a uniform thickness as shown in FIG. 2.

The free ends of the—as seen in FIG. 1—upper and lower left T-bars 2 and 3, respectively, are designed as a connecting element 5 of the type “round claw”, the ends of the T-bars 2 and 3, respectively, which are in a parallel plane to the connecting web 4 on the opposite side, are designed as connecting elements 6 of the type “round knob”. The connecting web 4, which extends vertically from the T-bars 2 and 3, respectively, is located approximately at the center of the double-T-beam 1.

The connecting element 5 of the type round claw exhibits approximately the cross-section of a mirror-inverted “C” with two claws 7 and 8, mirror-symmetric to the longitudinal axis of the T-bars 2 or 3, respectively, where the claws define a receiving space 9 for a corresponding connecting element of the type round knob and where their ends define a mouth opening 10. At the bottom of the receiving space facing the T-bars 2 and 3, respectively, an injection channel 11 with an approximately semi-circular shape may be provided as well.

The connecting element 6 of the type round claw has an approximately oval or mushroom-shaped cross-section and is designed in its dimensions such that it can engage, with a certain play, in a connecting element 5 of the type round claw of an adjacent sheet pile wall element. Such double-T-beams are easy to drive.

FIG. 2 also shows a cross-section of a double-T-beam 1′, where all connecting elements at the free ends of the T-bars 2 and 3 are designed as connecting elements 6 of the type round knob.

FIG. 3 shows a sheet pile 21 with an approximately Z-shaped cross-section, exhibiting three web sections 22, 23 and 24. Web sections 22 and 24 are located in parallel planes; web section 23 connects to the sections 22 and 24 each at an obtuse interior angle, resulting in a cross-section of a lying “Z”.

Connected to the end of the web section 22 is a connecting element 5 of the type round claw, which corresponds to that of the double-T-beam in FIG. 1; in this case too, an injection channel can be provided at the bottom of the connecting element 5.

Arranged at the end of the web section 24 is a connecting element 6 of the type round knob, which corresponds to the connecting element 6 of the double-T-beam in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows schematically the cross-section of a combination sheet pile wall 41, which is constructed solely of double-T-beams 1 according to FIG. 1. To construct the sheet pile wall, first a double-T-beam according to FIG. 1 is driven (rammed) into the ground, whereby, depending on the convention, the connecting element 5 of the type round claw can be located to the front or to the rear with respect to the driving (ramming) direction D. In FIG. 4, the mushroom-shaped connecting elements 6 are located in the front with respect to the direction D, according to the convention in the United States. Clipped to the double-T-beam 1 that has been driven into the ground is a second double-T-beam with its connecting element 5 of the type round claw and it is also driven into the ground. This procedure is repeated until a sheet pile wall 41 of the desired length is created. The soil between the outer walls of the sheet pile wall can be flushed out and the space then filled with a different filling material, for example, reinforced concrete. Achieving the interlocking of these interim elements and opening the connecting webs of the individual double-T-beams are important for the static equilibrium; they apply to the following embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows a combination sheet pile wall 51, which is constructed beginning with a double-T-beam 1 according to FIG. 1. Two sheet piles connected to each other—i.e., double sheet piles according to FIG. 3—are clipped to the connecting elements 6, which have a mushroom-shaped cross-section, of the (in the Figure) left double-T-beam, and to the round claws 5 of the (in the Figure) right double-T-beam, and are together driven into the ground. The double sheet piles between the two double-T-beams 1 are oriented such that an approximately O-shaped cavity 52 is formed between the sheet piles and the adjacent double-T-beams. As is apparent from this figure, all locks formed by the respective connecting elements, between one sheet pile each and the double-T-beam, are in one plane due to the straight and parallel web sections on the sides of each sheet pile.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section through a combination sheet pile wall 61 where, contrary to FIG. 5, the sheet piles 21 run essentially parallel. This creates a meander-shaped profile of the outer walls of the combination sheet pile wall with respective cavities 62 between the outer walls of the sheet pile wall. Here too, all locks formed by the respective connecting elements between one sheet pile each and a double-T-beam are in one plane. Such a construction of a sheet pile wall was not possible with conventional double-T-beams and sheet piles.

Because the connection of the sheet piles with the double-T-beams can be pivoted about a certain angle, it is also possible to construct sheet pile walls with a circular shape, etc.

A perfect formwork system can be constructed with the embodiments according FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of a connecting element 71. The connecting element 71 has a central web 72, from which stretch two round claws 73 and 74 with a C-shaped cross-section in opposite directions, mirror-symmetric to the center plane of the center web 72, whereby the round claws are each similarly designed as the round claws 5 of the double-T-beam 1. This connecting element 71 may be connected, for example, with a connecting element 6 of a double-T-beam, whereby a sheet pile 21 with its round knob 6 can be connected to a second C-shaped round claw. In the same manner, by integrating such connecting elements between sheet piles and/or double-T-beams, a sheet pile wall in the shape of a circle with a very small radius can be constructed.

This double-C-claw 71 may, for example, be used advantageously with a sheet pile wall that is modified with respect to the sheet pile walls 51 or 61, wherein double-T-beams 1′ according to FIG. 2 are employed which exhibit only connecting elements 6 of the type round knob. The one sheet pile of the two sheet piles that are connected to each other at the center via corresponding connecting elements can be inserted with its connecting element of the type round claw in the connecting element of the type round knob of the first double-T-beam, while the connecting element at the outer longitudinal edge of the second sheet pile is connected to the connecting element of the type round knob of the adjacent, second double-T-beam via the double-C-claw 71.

As compared to the use of the previously known elements for sheet pile walls, with the use of the double-T-beam according to the invention, and the connecting sheet pile wall elements, it is much easier and less expensive to construct a combination sheet pile. 

1.-8. (canceled)
 9. In a double-T-beam for the construction of a combination sheet pile wall from numerous elements that can be driven into the ground, whereby the double-T-beam exhibits in its cross-section two T-bars and one connecting web that connects said T-bars and forms the T-down-stroke, the improvement wherein free longitudinal edges of the double-T-beam, which are located on one side of the connecting web in one plane parallel to the connecting web, are configured as analogous connecting elements of a type selected from the group consisting of round claw and round knob for directly connecting additional sheet pile wall elements with corresponding connecting elements.
 10. The double-T-beam set forth in claim 9, wherein the double-T-beam exhibits, on one side of the connecting web, connecting elements of the type round claw and, on an opposite side of the connecting web, connecting elements of the type round knob.
 11. The double-T-beam set forth in claim 10, wherein, for use in constructing a sheet pile wall, two sheet piles with a Z-shaped cross-section are inserted between two double-T-beams each, wherein each said sheet pile exhibits at its one longitudinal edge a connecting element of the type round claw and at its other longitudinal edge a connecting element of the type round knob, and wherein said sheet piles are connected at their center via their corresponding connecting elements, whereby the connecting elements at the two longitudinal edges of the sheet pile pair engage in the corresponding connecting elements of two adjacent double-T-beams.
 12. The double-T-beam set forth in claim 11, wherein, at the sheet pile wall, locks that are formed by the connection of the corresponding connecting elements at the double-T-beams are located in one plane.
 13. The double-T-beam set forth in claim 9, wherein the double-T-beam exhibits at its longitudinal edges connecting elements of the type round knob on both sides of the connecting web.
 14. The double-T-beam as set forth in claim 13, wherein; for use in constructing a sheet pile wall, two sheet piles with a Z-shaped cross-section are inserted between two double-T-beams each, wherein each said sheet pile exhibits at one longitudinal edge a connecting element of the type round claw and at its other longitudinal edge a connecting element of the type round knob, and wherein said sheet piles are connected at their center via their corresponding connecting elements, and whereby the connecting element of the type round claw engages on the one longitudinal side of the sheet piles that are connected to one another in the connecting element of the one double-T-beam of the type round knob and the connecting element of the type round knob engages on the other longitudinal side of the sheet piles that are connected to one another with the connecting element of the type round knob of the second double-T-beam via a double-C-claw.
 15. The double-T-beam as set forth in claim 14, wherein, at the sheet pile wall, locks that are formed through connecting the corresponding connecting elements at at least one of the double-T-beam and the double-C-claw, respectively, are located in one plane.
 16. The double-T-beam as set forth in claim 9, wherein, for the direct connection to the double-T-beam, sheet piles exhibit at their one longitudinal edge connecting elements of the type round claw and at their other longitudinal edge connecting elements of the type round knob, wherein the sheet piles between the two connecting elements exhibit three web sections which together form a Z-shaped cross-section, wherein the connecting elements that follow said web sections stretch parallel to one another and point outward from the connecting elements, and wherein the center Z-section connects the ends of the web sections. 